Monday, May 12, 2008

Just Out of Curiosity...

Why is our modern civilization so intent on politicizing an event whose original purpose was so totally apolitical? Are we really so much less disciplined and rational than the ancient Greeks?

How many of these Japanese protesters with their "Free Tibet" T-shirts and flags would be willing to give Hokkaido back to the Ainu?

For that matter, how many similarly-accoutered Americans would be willing to acknowledge the treaty made long ago by the U.S. government promising all of North America west of the Mississippi River to the native tribes "for all time"?

Not so long ago there was an Asia Cup championship match between China and Japan played in China. Japan won. The Chinese fans, who had been booing and shouting nationalist slogans throughout the game, reacted by rioting. The Japanese soccer team and its staff had to be hustled out with police escort under a hail of lobbed bottles and debris. The Japanese fans, including some diplomats, were trapped inside the stadium for hours as riot police held off a crowd that was burning Japanese flags and screaming for blood. Roads to the Japanese embassy had to be cordoned off because groups of young Chinese tried to rush it. Tour buses and hotels catering to the Japanese team and its supporters were attacked and damaged even with police protection. Yes, it's true that there's a lot of historical bile between China and Japan, but after seeing mobs of angry, young Chinese blocking Carrefour department stores and screaming anti-French slogans in response to pro-Tibet protests in Paris, one has to wonder what kind of assurances China can give that any non-Chinese athlete winning an Olympic event won't find himself or his country winding up a target of irrational jingoist furor?

Can we expect the Olympics to wind up being something like this? (The video is of clips from an Asia Cup soccer qualifying match between Japan and China in China last February. There were no riots this time, but check out both the sportsmanship and the quality refereeing.)

Nearly all the Chinese I have met, and I have met quite a few, have been very good people. I'd like to believe they still represent the majority. I have not met any Tibetans, so I have no basis to judge them.

14 Comments:

The difference between a "freedom fighter" and a "terrorist" lies in whether the smaller movement has enough military or social power to force their point (and the backing of the world's remaining superpower plays a big role as well).

Tibetans and their supporters see the Olympics as an opportunity to point that spotlight on China in their direction, so they are doing it.

Most subnational factions have been "put down" in one way or another and the resulting deaths and mayhem are often used by them to justify later action, whether civil or violent. Whether they reap benefits from later social unrest depends on numbers, strength, and strategy.

As much as people would like to keep the Olympics "pure" and "for the athletes," it never really has been.

Just like any place where freedoms are curtailed, you can have 99% nice people and still have a terrible, oppressive government. The Chinese form of government still has too much in common with oppressive states like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, or North Korea but its prosperity is driving more positive change.

For Tibetans, that change is apparently not fast enough. For some Chinese, the glare of the spotlight on the dirtier corners of their legacy is a slight against their pride. Such is human nature.

As it's just past my bedtime, all I have time to say for now is: I think awarding the Olympics to China was a biiiig mistake. The IOC was trying to be too (what's the word?) politically correct? Pandering?

It's too early. Too complicated. Or thinking ahead to its evolving position in the future I almost wonder if it would ever be possible...

8 is the lucky number for Chinese thus this year olympic will be held in China (08-08-2008).

A lot of people are against it.

Look... since last year, people are trying very hard to jeopardize the event (or should I say "China"). It started with the Mattel toy products (made in China) were being recalls then all candies/food made in China and everything bad stuff being spread around. Now, with the politic situation between China and Tibet.

To be able to take place the Olympic in Beijing, it is a pride of Chinese. Hopefully it will be completed smoothly in a peaceful atmosphere.

As for the independence of Tibetans issue which is a long term problem. Who is wrong or right, we must trace back the source of the incident. Which country was originally involved in it and raised the issue? Now, what they are reacting, would it be a pawn of being used by some countries?

For the record, I was happy when China was first awarded the 2008 Olympics because I felt that it showed in no uncertain terms that the PRC had completed the transition from a shadowy, virtual pariah state to a very significant and active participant in world events. I've been hoping to see China take a bigger role in all kinds of things, from space development (which they're already doing) and scientific research (which they're already doing) to humanitarian aid and development (which they're already doing...though with more than a little controversy).

It's not a matter of being politically correct. It's simply a matter of recognizing the immense potential that has always existed in that country.

I feel the same way about other rapidly-developing countries such as India, as well.

As for the toy and food product scandals, they are apparently a problem within the PRC as well. The government there has been hard pressed to crack down on rampant corruption that has exploded along with the wave of economic development. History shows that this is to be expected in times of rapid industrial growth; the U.S. went through something similar in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The question is whether China's government will tackle the corruption or drown in it...or simply say "fuggit" and try to reinstate a planned economy.

Whatever. My enthusiasm for the Beijing Olympics drowned in the flood of propaganda coming from all sides.

phew, i haven't been keeping up w/ this at all. i listened, about 3 wks ago, to a Tibetan woman monk speaking about being held captive by the Chinese in their prisons and such, and how many were tortured... it was very interesting... but that's all i really know on the subject... other than some of the things that you've mentioned here.

as far as the indians... well... me and this topic go back. i didn't know about the things you speak about here. i think it's just sad really.

i was just reading an article in "O Magazine" about religion and violence. how the "us" vs. "them" creates violence.... interesting that your post is along these same lines.

I too was pleased when China was awarded the Olympics because we have always rightly assumed that the Olympics transcend political and humanitarian issues. Also, I like the Chinese traditions and celebratory style, and I saw it as China making another step towards taking its place on the global stage, but we could not foresee these extremely disruptive farces. Who knows what is yet to come?

About

I came to Japan in 1990 for what was supposed to be a two-year stint. Then, by some bizarre stroke of fate, I got a real life, so I'm still here. For a gaijin with an imagination and more than his share of sensitivity, these islands are a never-ending source of adventure.

About Me

I was born on a rainy day on the Oregon Coast (no surprises there) and through a rather convoluted sequence of events wound up in Japan. I'm a teacher by trade, moonlighting as a musician and composer. I also do quite a bit of writing on the side. I'm a dreamer, a thinker, a sayer, and a doer all wrapped in one deceptively mild-mannered package.